Holy Week
Palm Sunday
“A Picture of Life”
(A week of Cheers & Tears)
“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.”
-Matthew 21:4-7
[Cheers]
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” [Cheers] “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven! Then Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
-Matthew 21:8-11
[Cheers]
“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ I tell you,” he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”
-Luke 19:38-42
[Tears]
Before Palm Sunday Jesus said;
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing… you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
–Lk 13:34+
[Tears]
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”
- Luke 19:38-42
[Tears]
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to SERVE, and to GIVE his life as a ransom for many."
- Mark 10:45
BUT some want to be SELF-SERVING
[Tears]
Palm Sunday
The uses of the palms on our hands.
(For bad, and for good)
Monday
“When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.”
-Luke 19:45-48
[No Cheers]
Tuesday
Jesus was tested by the Leaders.
Jesus cannot be verbally bullied.
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
“Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
-Matthew 21:23-27
[No Cheers]
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. [Fake Cheers] You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”
-Matthew 22:15-22
[No Cheers]
Wednesday
We know nothing. The Gospel writers are silent. Perhaps it was a day of rest for him and his weary and worried disciples.
Thursday
In an upper room, Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples giving it a new meaning. No longer would his followers only remember the Exodus from Egypt, but they would also remember his broken body and shed blood. Later that evening in the Garden of Gethsemane he agonized in prayer about the cross.
-The Last Supper
-Betrayal
-Arrest
-“I AM”
Jesus had more strength in his words than the worlds mightiest army.
Friday
After his betrayal, arrest, imprisonment, desertion, false trials, denial, condemnation, beatings and sentencing, Jesus carried his own cross to "The Place of the Skull," where he was crucified with two other prisoners.
Saturday
Jesus’ body laid dead in a tomb bought by a rich man named Joseph.
Sunday
The stone had been rolled away. Jesus was alive. He appeared to Mary, to Peter, to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and to the eleven disciples gathered in a locked room. His resurrection was established as a fact.
Cheers & Tears
Life Between the Parades
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away…"He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces..."
(Rev. 21:4; Isaiah 25:8)
“Sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
-Romans 6:14
[Cheers]
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:18
[Cheers]
"Rejoice in the Lord always… The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you.”
–Philippians 4:4-9
[Cheers]